The Piano Teachers' Course UK
16 years of leading professional development for piano teachers worldwide
Teaching LRSM
There will not be a Teaching LRSM Course running in 2022-23. If you are interested in studying with us, please get in touch and we will let you know when the next course is running.
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Do you already have your Teaching DipABRSM and are looking to further your teaching skills and qualifications?
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The Teaching LRSM Course calls for the practical application of your knowledge and understanding of teaching pupils at a high level, up to and including ABRSM Grade 8. This not only requires good piano playing and musicianship skills but also good communication skills, leadership qualities and the ability to present ideas concisely and with clarity.
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The course also provides the perfect opportunity for you to explore and develop new and different teaching methods to enhance your own teaching and even inspire and raise standards in the profession as a whole.
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If you have not taken the Cert PTC or PTC ABRSM Teaching Diploma Course, we strongly recommend you begin the LRSM Course from September rather than January. Please contact the Administrator to discuss this option.
Course Dates: 2021-22 (provisional - dates may change slightly)
It is now possible to take this course entirely online if you are unable to travel. Please specify this option when you apply. If enrolling to attend in person with single days online, please note the information below.
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Sunday 24th January 2021 - Online
Saturday 20th - Sunday 21st February 2021 - In person
Saturday 10th - Sunday 11th April 2021 - In person
Sunday 30th May 2021 - Online
Sunday 20th June 2021 - Online
Saturday 25th September 2021 - Online
Saturday 23rd - Sunday 24th October 2021 - In person
Sunday 21st November 2021 - Online
Sunday 23rd January 2022 - Online
Saturday 19th - Sunday 20th February 2022 - In person
Saturday 2nd April - Sunday 3rd April 2022 - In person
Sunday 22nd May 2022 - Online
Sunday 19th June 2022 - In person
Prerequisites
In order to take this course, you need to have at least 2+ years’ experience teaching at Grade 6-8 level, and be teaching at least two pupils of that level throughout the course.
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You also need:
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Grade 8 piano or higher
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Teaching DipABRSM
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ABRSM Grade 8 Theory / ABRSM Grade 8 Practical Musicianship*
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*Or a permitted substitution (See page 23 of the ABRSM Teaching Diploma Syllabus)
For help with your Grade 8 theory, we recommend Victoria Williams, at www.mymusictheory.com.
During the course, you will...
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Be guided through the elements of the qualification in a step-by-step process with support from your tutors along the way. These are:
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Section 1: Teaching Skills Viva Voce (60% of the total marks). This includes the Case Study Portfolio and Video of Teaching Practice.
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Section 2.1: Written Submission (25% of the total marks)
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Section 2.2: Quick Study (15%)
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Candidates need to obtain at least a Pass in each of the three sections.
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Have the opportunity to develop your communication and presentation skills with fellow students
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Work in a supportive environment
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Receive feedback on written and video assignments
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Take a mock Teaching LRSM exam and receive feedback
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Be coached by our expert tutors, Dr Sally Cathcart, co-founder of The Curious Piano Teachers and an ABRSM examiner and syllabus consultant, and Julie Costley-White, an experienced Teaching DipABRSM and LRSM examiner.
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Your tutors will help and guide you through the process, and advise you on readiness, but it is your responsibility to enter yourself and pay for your own LRSM exam with ABRSM.
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To give you an idea of the time required to complete your work, the ABRSM Teaching Diploma Syllabus states that the Total Qualification Time of the LRSM is 2000 hours.
Course Content - The Teaching LRSM
The following will be covered during the course, but in addition, we strongly recommend all students take piano lessons from a teacher who is experienced in preparing students for diplomas in performance. All PTC Tutors can offer such lessons, as required.
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Section 1: Teaching Skills Viva Voce
Section 2.1: Written Submission
Section 2.2: Quick Study
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Candidates must achieve at least a Pass in all three sections.
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Section 1: Teaching Skills Viva Voce – 60% of the total marks
This comprises a Case Study Portfolio, Video of Teaching Practice and Teaching Skills Viva Voce practical exam:
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Case Study Portfolio: Students undertake a Case Study of at least six months duration with three contrasting pupils, to be submitted 3 months prior to the closing date of their practical exam entry.
Video of Teaching Practice: Students make a 60-minute video of their teaching, to be submitted 3 months prior to the closing date of their practical exam entry. The video should be in two sections:
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A typical lesson featuring a pupil in their Case Study Portfolio which includes a range of activities.
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A demonstration of teaching approaches, featuring a number of pupils of different ages and abilities.
Teaching Skills Viva Voce practical exam: Taking up to 50 minutes of the 75 minute exam, students are required to demonstrate their understanding of the principles of piano teaching, and of a variety of teaching approaches and strategies. They must be familiar with, and bring to the exam, a wide variety of teaching materials, some of which will be the graded ABRSM syllabus up to and including Grade 8.
Students must also choose three contrasting Grade 8 pieces (one from each section A, B and C), from the ABRSM syllabus that will be current when they take their LRSM, and prepare them so that they can perform them, or requested sections of them, and discuss them in terms of teaching and learning.
Students will also be asked questions about teaching and learning under the following headings:
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Musical Outlook
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Case Study Portfolio and Video of Teaching Practice
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Technique
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Pedagogy
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Written Submission
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Repertoire (including tutor books, exercises and other resources up to and including ABRSM Grade 8)
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Style and Interpretation
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History and background of the piano
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Professional values and practice
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​Section 2.1: Written Submission – 25% of the total marks
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Students select a title from the list and write a 4,500 word essay, to be submitted with their LRSM application form three months prior to their practical exam.
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Section 2.2: Quick Study – 15% of the total marks
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Taking up to 10 minutes of their 75 minute practical exam, students have five minutes to look at a new piece of Grade 7 in standard, and then play it well enough for pupils to be able to grasp it, and decide whether or not they want to learn it.
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Please see the ABRSM Teaching Diploma Syllabus for more information on the sections of the qualification, or contact us to discuss the course.
How to Apply
This course has now started. If you are interested in applying for the next one, please get in touch.
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Acceptance to the course is by application only. You will be required to send a video of your teaching and a short paragraph about one area or aspect of your teaching that you have been reflecting on recently. (500 words max.) You will also need to provide two references with your application.
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To enquire and apply, please contact the Manager, Rhiana (info@pianoteacherscourse.co.uk).